I was flat ironing my curly hair. I was a tantrica, starved for touch. I was a mystical wanderer with a big mortgage and a bigger house. I was a free spirit with ankle weights, credit cards, china platters of cheetohs and ho-hos to dull the ache of living in the half-life. I was chasing windmills of love in locked up rooms without any wind. I was the heavy t-shirts and yoga pants from box stores I hid myself in, horrified by the silhouette of my own body. I was the shadow hiding beneath the brilliance of my soul. Then, the breaking. I split, I fell, I bruised, I bled, I excavated, I broke open, I grew. I discovered my wings and not only my wings but my tail, glimmering like a mermaid slicing through the furious ocean, the dragon serpent soaring with the wind. Now, I am in my warrior queen era with tight black bodysuits, lightning in my ears, sticks wrangling my wild curly hair. Now, my heart is a candle, a firework, a bonfire. Seen and loved, caressed and adored, lit up from inside out and the outside in. Now, my heart is my signature, tender, glowing, a fierce flame of love and creation. Now I love the flesh of this human woman body, the mountains and valleys, the curves and boulders, the creaks and crevices, the delights of the goddess. Now, I am in my medicine woman era, living with and talking to and making art with the spirits and the trees, mounting the spirit horse and taking the reins. I am squeezing that rich, powerful flesh between my thighs and digging her hide with my heels. Giddy up girl....now it's time to fly! (Written and shared in last night's True Story circle! What is YOUR then and now??)

Y'ALL. This one's a stunner. I went to the college where Joseph Campbell taught for decades and over the years of absorbing the hero's journey, never once before now did I hear about the HEROINE'S JOURNEY developed by Joseph Campbell's colleague--Maureen Murdock! This one HIT HOME HARD for me. How does it feel to you??

A wonderful member suggested we share our favorite book/poem/vignette/reading suggestions---fuel for our writing fires!

A big warm fire welcome to all of our new members! @Mina Smith, @Mitzi Averette, @Michelle Macgillivary @Whitney Tymas @Joanne Jensen @Sharon Comunale @Lauren McDonald @Karol Grankers @Kristina Collazo @Emma Marie Hanna @Jennyfur Yane! Wether you've been on a writing path for a long time or you're brand new, whether you're excited about writing or dread it, whether it terrifies or excites you, f you are ready to heal your relationship with writing you are ready to heal your relationship with yourself! Share a word or sentence below that names how you feel about writing--whether it's nervous, shy, vulnerable, ready, curious, scared, eager....every feeling we have is fuel for the writing fire!